Can animals go to heaven ?

Some people all over the world have been excited in recent days about reports by news agencies worldwide -- including one from CNN -- declaring that Pope Francis apparently believes they can .

It turns out it 's unclear what he believes about this .

A previous pope , Paul VI , had no doubts . `` One day we will again see our animals in the eternity of Christ , '' Paul once told a boy grieving the loss of his pet .

That quote , from the pontiff who reigned from 1963 until his death in 1978 , was inaccurately attributed to Francis .

The confusion may have begun when Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera referred to Paul 's quote in a story that carried the headline , `` The pope and animals : ` Heaven is open to all creatures . ' ''

The story itself does not indicate Francis said that . Instead , it refers back to Paul VI .

The writer for the newspaper pointed to something Francis actually did say : `` Sacred Scripture teaches us that the fulfillment of this marvelous plan can not but involve everything that surrounds us and came from the heart and mind of God . ''

That remark , the writer suggested , `` widened the hope of salvation '' to animals and all of creation .

The headline on the article quoted Francis as saying , `` Heaven is open to all creatures . '' But there 's no sign Francis said that .

A search through the current Pope 's writings and remarks showed no immediate sign that he has taken a clear position on the question .

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While Catholic teachings neither reject nor reaffirm the notion that animals have souls . There is no hard-and-fast answer in Catholicism to this question .

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It 's an emotional question for many people .

Amy Kitchens Pollick of Decatur , Alabama , shared an anecdote from her childhood on Friday . When she was 10 years old , death claimed her beloved cat , Big Tom .

Her father had tears in his eyes when he told her , `` Now Little One . The Bible says the Lord sees even every sparrow that falls , '' Pollick wrote on Facebook . `` If He sees every sparrow , He 's not going to forget about a good old kitty like Big Tom . ' ''

`` I 've held that in my heart ever since , '' she wrote .

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It was Pope Paul VI , not Pope Francis , who said animals can go to heaven

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It 's unclear where Francis stands on the issue

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An Italian newspaper says Francis ' remarks suggest he agrees